Through an arched gateway into the medina, inside a labyrinth of alleyways lined with shops selling spices and perfumed oils, rare vinyl and handmade instruments, comes the sound of the blues. Ancient and current, funky and rhythmic, buoyed by Arabic lyrics, soaring vocals and bass-heavy grooves, it seems to pulse from the heart of the Maghreb.
Inspired. Soulful. As if it was born at its crossroads.
So mabrouk. Blessings. You’ve happened upon Bab L’ Bluz, a Moroccan-French power quartet that is reclaiming the blues for North Africa. Created in 2018 in tribute to Gnawa culture, the centuries old Moroccan practice rooted in Islamic and sub-Saharan African traditions and music played with the guembri, the three-stringed bass-lute, Bab L’ Bluz has commanded attention, opened doors — ‘bab’ means ‘gate’ in Arabic — from the off.
